Tartuffe is a hypocritical individual who has tricked Orgon into believing that he is a good religious man. He exploits Orgon through this behavior and Orgon continues to believe him. Tartuffe is poor and knows he can use Orgon, who is wealthier and has property, in order to get what he wants, which is to not live in poverty anymore. Through all of this, he influenced Orgon into thinking he was a pious individual, who has saved him and changed his life. However, Tartuffe is in turn a bad influence on Orgon.

Orgon was a sane character until he met Tartuffe. He believed he needed to become a religious person, and that Tartuffe could help him. He was blinded by everything except Tartuffe, which is shown when he does not care for how his wife or family is feeling, but is just focused on Tartuffe. This is shown in Act 1.4 when Orgon repeats “And Tartuffe? Poor man!” which in turn shows how obsessed Orgon is with Tartuffe and how he cannot see that Tartuffe is just exploiting him for what he wants. This behavior is deemed ridiculous and absurd.

As opposed to everyone else in the household, Orgon cannot see the fact that Tartuffe is a hypocrite in disguise of a religious man. During a conversation with Cleante, Orgon could not talk about anything except praising Tartuffe. When Cleante tried to talk about how greedy and disrespectful Tartuffe was, Orgon, so blinded by this man, did not believe any of it to be bad. In Act 1.5, all he could do was compliment everything Tartuffe has done, which shows how Tartuffe has taken advantage of Orgon’s feelings and simplicity. He is conniving, and Orgon is just eating Tartuffe’s words right up.